Biratnagar, March 18:

The Maoist-called district headquarters blockade has affected normal lives in the markets of rural areas in Morang district.

Majors markets of rural areas are totally affected after disruption of transportation service. Rural markets like Itahara, Sijuwa, Rangeli, Amardaha, Urlabari, Jhorahat, Biratchowk and Pathari are badly affected by the blockade, locals said.

Business transaction in Rangeli has gone down by 70 per cent after the blockade, said a businessman Prakash Shah.

“Though shops are open, there is no customer,” Shah said. Vehicular movement came to a grinding halt after Maoists obstructed Biratnagar- Rangeli road in various places.

The number of people visting Rangeli from southeastern part of the district has decreased due to the blockade, Shah said.

Motorbikes have also stopped plying in the road after Maoists took control over two bikes at Ram Chowk yesterday. The sale of everyday goods has been disrupted in areas of Urlabari and Rangeli as the movement of vehicles stopped since five days in Rageli- Uralabari road.

“Prices of daily use commodities are soaring in the markets of Pathari,” said a local, Deepak Magar. Supply of vegetables, milk and other agriculture products has been disrupted in the markets of Letang, Madhumalla and Jate VDCs in the northern part of Morang district.

Meanwhile, Maoists obstructed Pathari- Kanepokhari sector of Mahendra Highway by placing trees in the road. Vehicular movement has completely halted in Urlabari-Madhumalla road and Biratchowk- Ghinagat road.

Vehicular movement came to a halt as Maoists threatened against plying vehicles at Jhorahat two days ago, locals said.

Maoists’ threat had stopped the movement of motorbikes and light vehicles in the streets.

Meanwhile, the number of minibuses and microbuses plying in Biratnagar-Dharan route increased from today.